Bird flu reaches Antarctica and concerns about seals and penguins

25 okt 2023 om 00:33 Update: 5 uur geleden

Bird flu has reached Antarctica for the first time. Scientists are concerned about the impact on seals, seagulls and penguins, for example, which live in the area and have not previously been exposed to the deadly virus.

The virus was found in dead migratory birds on Bird Island, part of the Antarctic region.

It is possible that migratory birds brought the disease with them from South America. Bird flu is common there. In Chile and Peru alone, an estimated 500,000 seabirds and 20,000 sea lions were killed.

Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) discovered the virus. “This is a very sad event,” BAS employee Ashley Bennison said. Watchman.

Bird Island is considered one of the richest nature reserves in the world. There are many endangered bird species. There are also 50,000 pairs of penguins and 65,000 pairs of seals breeding there.

The full impact of the virus’s arrival is not yet known, but scientists fear that vulnerable animals in the area will face problems during the breeding season.

A risk assessment conducted by the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research shows that seals, sea lions and gulls, among others, are at greatest risk. This is followed by different bird species such as penguins and birds of prey.

To minimize the impact of bird flu arriving on Bird Island, most of the researchers’ field work involving animals has been temporarily halted.

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